The Editors' Association of Canada offers the following four certification tests based on Professional Editorial Standards (PES):

1. Structural Editing

• Standards tested: B1–12 of Professional Editorial Standards and A1–12 (Fundamentals of Editing)
• How you take the test: Invigilated test on hard copy, using standard editing mark-up
• Time allowed: Three hours
• Test description: Short-answer questions that require knowledge of the publishing process and of structural editing, and one passage that allows you to demonstrate your publishing knowledge and your structural editing skills. You may be asked to carry out tasks such as
  • reorganizing the passage
  • using a table of contents and/or outline to show the structural editing that the text requires
  • revising, cutting or expanding material to meet specific requirements
  • preparing a memo to the assigning editor or author commenting on the required editing
• Reference books and tools: You will be asked to bring pens, pencils, an eraser, a calculator and rulers, and you will be allowed to bring a Canadian dictionary, Editing Canadian English and up to three more style guides

2. Stylistic Editing

• Standards tested: C1–15 of Professional Editorial Standards and A1–12 (Fundamentals of Editing)
• How you take the test: Invigilated test on hard copy, using standard editing mark-up
• Time allowed: Three hours
• Test description: Short-answer questions that require knowledge of the publishing process and of stylistic editing, and one passage that allows you to demonstrate your publishing knowledge and your stylistic editing skills. You may be asked to carry out tasks such as
  • improving sentence construction and word choice to convey meaning more effectively
  • rewriting sentences, paragraphs and passages to resolve ambiguity and ensure logical connections
  • eliminating wordiness
  • preparing a memo to the assigning editor or author commenting on the required editing
• Reference books and tools: You will be asked to bring pens, pencils, an eraser, a calculator and rulers, and you will be allowed to bring a Canadian dictionary, Editing Canadian English and up to three more style guides

3. Copy Editing

• Standards tested: D1–18 of Professional Editorial Standards and A1–12 (Fundamentals of Editing)
• How you take this test: Invigilated test on hard copy, using standard editing mark-up
• Time allowed: Three hours
• Test description: Short-answer questions that require knowledge of the publishing process and of copy editing, and at least one passage that allows you to demonstrate your publishing knowledge and your copy editing skills. You may be asked to carry out tasks such as
  • correcting errors in spelling, punctuation, grammar and usage
  • ensuring the accuracy of numerical material
  • correcting or querying inconsistencies in logic, factual details and cross-references
  • maintaining consistency in heads, tables and lists
  • creating a style sheet
• Reference books and tools: You will be asked to bring pens, pencils, an eraser, a calculator and rulers, and you will be allowed to bring a Canadian dictionary, Editing Canadian English and up to three more style guides

4. Proofreading

• Standards tested: E1–18 of Professional Editorial Standards and A1–12 (Fundamentals of Editing)
• How you take this test: Invigilated test on hard copy, using standard proofreading mark-up
• Time allowed: Three hours
• Test description: Short-answer questions that require knowledge of the publishing process and of proofreading, and at least one passage that allows you to demonstrate your publishing knowledge and your proofreading skills. You may be asked to carry out tasks such as
  • inserting author's alterations
  • checking that copy editing changes have been made correctly
  • checking for lapses in stylistic and copy editing and taking appropriate action
  • checking the integrity of the laid-out manuscript against the original manuscript
  • checking for errors in layout
• Reference books and tools: You will be asked to bring pens, pencils, an eraser, a calculator and rulers, and you will be allowed to bring a Canadian dictionary, Editing Canadian English and up to three more style guides

Test formats

Historically, all of the certification tests have been strictly paper-based. While EAC was developing and establishing the program, we did not have the resources required to administer computer-based tests securely and efficiently. We recognize, however, that most editors work onscreen a good deal of the time, rather than strictly with pen and paper. We have therefore begun researching ways to provide electronic testing while maintaining the security and integrity of the certification process.

A Computer Testing Task Force was formed to explore these issues in the spring and summer of 2011, and came up with a set of recommendations (PDF, 503 KB) that was accepted that fall by the national executive council. A pilot version of an electronic Copy Editing test was administered in November, 2011. It revealed that we still have issues to resolve before we can offer the exams electronically. We're continuing this work.

Meanwhile, we're improving our paper-based tests. We'll continue to set paper-based tests that include questions about onscreen editing but don't require candidates to perform tasks best accomplished with the help of a computer, such as search and replace or cut and paste. This will allow us to address the role of computers in the work lives of editors while maintaining test security, operating efficiently, accommodating the needs of markers and providing a world-class certification program for editors.